Check valve

ABSTRACT

A one-way valve which can be utilized in a toilet, particularly in a urinal, to prevent return flow of malodorous gases from the sewage system into the room wherein the toilet is installed has a body which is confined in the toilet. The body carries two sheet- or panel-shaped valving elements at least one of which is resilient to yield to the flow of urine but normally sealingly engages the other element to prevent the flow of gases from the sewage system counter to the direction of flow of the urine. At least one marginal portion of the at least one valving element is free to move away from the corresponding marginal portion of the other element to also permit lateral outflow of urine when the one element is at least partially out of contact with the other element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES

This application relies on the priorities of the commonly ownedInternational Patent Application Serial No. PCT/IB2003/006080, filedDec. 19, 2003, and South African Patent Application Serial No. 2002/8635filed Dec. 24, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements in check valves (alsoknown as one-way valves) which permit the flow of fluid media in a firstdirection but prevent a return flow of such media in a second directioncounter to the first direction.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,533 A (granted Oct. 14, 1980 to Godfrey) discloses acheck valve wherein the outlet is defined by a tube adapted to beflattened for the purpose of preventing return flow of a fluid towardand into the inlet. This valve constitutes a further development ofso-called drain tube valves which are employed in certain types ofwatercraft, e.g., in power boats. A drawback of such valves is that theflattened regions of the deformed tubular outlet tend to accumulatesolid matter which adheres to the outlet and reduces the rate of fluidflow through the valve and also prevents adequate sealing of the outletwhen the latter should prevent a return flow of fluids, especiallygaseous fluids. Similar drawbacks are exhibited by numerous otherconventional check valves including, for example, that disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,401,266 and in European patent application Serial No. EP1 174549 A2 of Senteur (published Jan. 23, 2002 and relying on the priorityof the Netherlands patent application Serial No. NL 1015745 filed Jul.19, 2002).

The above discussed conventional valves exhibit the additional drawbackthat solid matter tends to accumulate along the edges of the flattenedtube, i.e., in the regions where the resiliency of the tube is lesspronounced than elsewhere. Such deposits of solid matter reduce theresiliency of the adjacent portion of the tube and cannot be readilyremoved therefrom. The deposits of solid matter on the tube can rapidlygather into accumulations which suffice to permit a backflow of gaseousfluids, e.g., of noxious gases which gather in sewage systems.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,606 (granted Apr. 18, 1978 to Mittleman) discloses afluid transfer device employing a so-called umbrella check valve whichhas first and second inlets and a duckbill-shaped outlet. The valvingelement of this valve permits the flow of a fluid from the first inletto the second inlet and from the second inlet to the outlet but blocksthe flow of fluid from the second inlet to the first inlet as well asfrom the outlet to both inlets. This check valve is intended to serve asa means for regulating the administration of liquid medicaments to apatient. Each half of the duckbill-shaped outlet is at least partiallyrigid.

An additional drawback of all presently known check valves which areknown to the applicant and employ tubular or duckbill-shaped outletdefining devices is that such devices tend to collapse when the pressuredifferential between the inner side and the exterior of the outletreaches a certain relatively low value. This can result in undesirablesealing of the outlet when such sealing is not desirable or dangerous.Attempts to avoid such untimely collapse of the outlet were unsuccessfulif the check valve is to remain sufficiently sensitive, e.g., to open inresponse to the flow of urine therethrough but to invariably prevent theflow of malodorous gases in a direction counter to the flow of urine.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the instant invention is to provide a novel and improvedone-way valve or check valve which is more versatile than presentlyknown check valves and can be utilized with particular advantage toprevent the flow of malodorous gaseous fluids from a sewage systemthrough a urinal or other device for the collection and evacuation ofsolid and/or liquid bodily waste and into the space wherein the urinalis installed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the check valvewith a novel housing or body and with novel and improved means forinvariably ensuring unidirectional flow of one or more fluids in thehousing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toilet which embodiesthe improved one-way valve.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive but highly reliable one-way valve adapted to be put to usein presently known urinals or other contrivances which must invariablyensure unidirectional flow of of fluids therethrough.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the one-way valvewith novel and improved means for reliably confining gaseous and/orliquid fluids to flow only in a desired direction and for ensuring suchunidirectional flow for extended periods of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved one-way valve which permits only gravitationally induced flowof one or more fluids, such as urine.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a toilet (such as aurinal) with novel and improved means for properly positioning andconfining the above outlined one-way valve therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a check valve whichcomprises a small number of relatively simple parts, which can be put touse in conventional arrangements (such as urinals), and which can berapidly and conveniently replaced with a new valve without necessitatingresort to special tools or other implements.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved meansfor regulating the flow of gaseous and/or liquid fluids in regions whereuncontrolled admission of one or more fluids would render the regionuninhabitable or unpleasant to the occupants.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a check valve orone-way valve which can stand long periods of use (e.g., in a lavatory)without any changes of its ability to regulate (such as prevent) theflow of one or more fluids into a certain area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a check valve whichovercomes at least some drawbacks of the aforediscussed conventionalcheck valves but is and remains sufficiently sensitive to prevent theflow of certain fluids counter to a selected direction.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedurinal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is embodied in a one-way valve or check valve whichcomprises a body having a first end and a second end and defining afluid flow path extending from the first end toward the second end, asubstantially strip-shaped first valving element which is provided atthe second end and extends away from the first end of the body, and asecond valving element which is borne by the body and normally sealinglyengages the first valving element to prevent the outflow of fluid fromthe path. At least one of the valving elements consists of a materialwhich is sufficiently resilient to move away from the other valvingelement in response to the flow of fluid along the path and thencebetween the valving elements.

One of the valving elements can constitute or at least approximate amirror image of the other valving element. The body of the improvedvalve can have an annular shape and can comprise two sections which areor can be at least substantial mirror images of each other.

The body and the valving elements can be installed in a portion of atoilet to prevent the flow of malodorous gases between the valvingelements and into the path when the second element sealingly engages thefirst element.

A presently preferred use of the improved check valve is in a urinalwherein the body is installed to permit the flow of urine in a directionalong the path and thereupon between the valving elements but to preventthe flow of malodorous gases which issue from the sewage system counterto such direction. The urinal can include or contain an at leastsubstantially tubular enclosure which at least partially surrounds thevalving elements and which can also surround at least the second end ofthe body of the improved valve. The enclosure can be provided with atleast one guide slot and at least one of the valving elements caninclude a lateral portion which is received in the slot at least whenthe valving elements sealingly engage each other.

The urinal or the body of the valve can be provided with first guidemeans and the body or the urinal is then provided with second guidemeans cooperating with the first guide means to maintain the body in apredetermined position relative to the urinal. The first guide means cancomprise at least one projection, and the second guide means is thenprovided with a recess for such projection. For example, the projectioncan include a pin or a rib.

The body of the improved valve can comprise first and second sectionswhich define the aforementioned path and respectively carry the firstand second valving elements. Such sections of the valve body canconstitute or approximate mirror images of each other and can be bondedto one another.

The body of the valve can be provided with an external flange which canabut one end of the aforementioned tubular enclosure when the valve isinstalled in such enclosure.

At least one of the valving elements can have a thickness which at leastapproximates 0.2 mm, and at least a portion of the valve body can have athickness at least approximating 0.8 mm. At least one of the valvingelements can be of one piece with the body and at least one of thevalving elements can have an at least substantially square orrectangular outline.

The improved valve can be constructed and assembled in such a way thatthe at least one valving element is movable away from the other valvingelement to permit the fluid to flow between the two elements in a firstdirection away from the second end of the body as well as in at leastone second direction transversely of the first direction.

The body of the improved valve, the first valving element and/or thesecond valving element can consist at least in part of a suitableelastomeric material, such as a plastic material.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved one-way valve itself, however, both as to its construction andthe methods of assembling, installing and operating the same, togetherwith numerous additional important and advantageous features andattributes thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of thefollowing detailed description of certain presently preferred specificembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a check valve or one-wayvalve which embodies one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the valve which embodies the structureof FIG. 1 and is installed in a tubular enclosure of a urinal;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary sectional view of a urinal which embodies asecond valve constituting a modification of the one-way valve of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3B is a side elevational view of the valve which is shown in FIG.3A;

FIG. 3C is a view similar to that of FIG. 3A but showing a portion of amodified urinal containing a one-way valve which is identical with orconstitutes a modification of the valve shown in FIG. 2 or 3B;

FIG. 3D shows the valve of FIG. 3C turned through an angle of 90°; and

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged view of a portion of a modified urinalcontaining a one-way valve which is or which can be identical with thevalve of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a check valve or one-wayvalve 3 comprising a housing or body 4, a first rectangular flap- orsheet-like valving element 6 a which is carried by a first substantiallytrough-shaped section 4 a of the body 4, and a second valving element orflap 6 b which is a mirror image of the element 6 a and is borne by asecond trough-shaped section 4 b of the body 4.

The body 4 can constitute a plastic molding, e.g., an elastomericsynthetic plastic component, and each of the valving elements(hereinafter mostly called flaps for short) 6 a, 6 b can but need not bean integral part of the respective trough-shaped section 4 a, 4 b of thebody 4. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the two sections or halves 4a, 4 b of the body 4 are bonded to each other by a suitable adhesive anddefine a fluid flow path 5 which extends from an inlet to an outlet ofthe body 4. The inlet is located between two semicircular flanges 7 a, 7b of the respective halves 4 a, 4 b, and the outlet is located at thoseends of the halves 4 a and 4 b which carry the flaps 6 a, 6 b. When thehalves: 4 a, 4 b are bonded to each other, the two semicircular flanges7 a, 7 b together form a circumferentially complete washer-like flange7.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the flaps 4 a, 4b normally abut each other face-to-face (see FIG. 2) so that theyprevent the penetration of a gaseous fluid into the outlet of the path5. However, at least one of the flaps 6 a, 6 b is sufficiently resilientto move away from the other flap when the path 5 receives a flow of afluid (such as urine) in a direction (see the arrow A in FIG. 2) fromthe inlet toward the outlet of the path. This enables the fluid to issuefrom the valve 3 in a first direction (as indicated in FIG. 2 by theaforementioned arrow A) as well as transversely of the first directionas indicated by the double-headed arrow B. Thus, a fluid can issue fromthe valve 3 by flowing beyond those (first) marginal portions 6 a′, 6 b′of the flaps 6 a, 6 b which are remote from the path 5, as well asbeyond at least one of the two second (lateral) marginal portions 6 a″,6 b″ of the respective flaps 6 a, 6 b. The pairs of lateral marginalportions 6 a″, 6 b″ extend from the sections or halves 4 a, 4 b of thebody 4 toward the respective first (transverse) marginal portions 6 a′,6 b′.

The flexibility of at least one of the flaps 6 a, 6 b practicallyeliminates the likelihood of accumulation of solid matter at theconfronting sides of the flaps which, in turn, prevents gaseous fluids(e.g., malodorous gases in a sewage system) from flowing first betweenthe flaps 6 a, 6 b and thence into the two mirror symmetrical portions 5a, 5 b of the path 5. The flow of noxious gases into the path 5 couldtake place if the valve 3 could not prevent their flow into the interiorof the body 4, i.e., such gases could penetrate from the sewage systeminto the area around the urinal. The portions 5 a, 5 b of the path 5 aredefined by the body sections 4 a, 4 b, respectively.

A portion of a urinal 1 is shown in FIG. 3A. This urinal comprises abowl 1 a defining a passage 1 b for reception of a modified valve 3′which latter, when properly installed, is overlapped by a customarycover grid 12. The grid 12 overlies the flange 7 which, in turn,overlies an internal shoulder 2 of the bowl la. When the urinal 1 is inuse, urine flows through the grid 12, into the path 5 and thereuponbetween the valving elements or flaps 6 a, 6 b (only one shown in FIG.3A) at least one of which yields and permits urine to flow in thedirection indicated by the arrow A and/or B, i.e., into the sewagesystem. However, once the flow of urine is terminated, the flap 6 aand/or 6 b immediately reassumes its sealing position so tha the valve3′ prevents any flow of malodorous gases from the sewage system into thepath 5 and thence into the room accommodating the urinal 1.

For example, at least one of the flaps 6 a, 6 b can have a thickness atleast approximating 0.2 mm, and at least a portion of the body 4 canhave a thickness in the range of 0.8 mm. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, theflaps 6 a, 6 b merge into the adjacent end portions of the respectivehalves 4 a, 4 b of the body 4. It is presently preferred to select thedimensions and the material of the halves 4 a, 4 b in such a way thatthe finished housing 4 is sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting. Asalready mentioned hereinbefore, the body 4 can consist of a single pieceof a suitable material, and such single piece can be integral with atleast one of the flaps 6 a, 6 b. If the valve 3 or 3′ includes aone-piece body 4, the latter can be connected with at least one of theflaps 6 a, 6 b during the making of the body in a suitable mold or in asubsequent step.

FIG. 3B shows the one-way valve 3′ prior to insertion into the urinal 1of FIG. 3A and turned through 90° relative to the position shown in FIG.3A. The difference between the valves 3 and 3′ is that the body orhousing of the latter valve comprises longitudinally extendingprojections 11 in the form of ribs which are received in complementaryrecesses or grooves of the bowl 1 a. The ribs 11 replace the tubularenclosure 8 of FIG. 2. An advantage of the valve 3′ is that it canreadily withstand pronounced and abrupt changes in pressure there-acrosssuch as could entail an undesirable pressure increase at the outlet ofthe valve 3′ and the resulting collapse of one or the other or bothflaps 6 a, 6 b longitudinally inwardly. A collapse of one or more partsof the check valve is a serious drawback of presently known check valveswhich are utilized in urinals.

The ribs 11 of the check valve 3′ are disposed diametrically oppositeeach other at the junctions of the flaps 6 a, 6 b with the respectivesections or halves of the housing or body 4 of this valve. Such ribs areor can be of one piece with the body 4. It is also possible to providethe ribs 11 or analogous projections on the urinal for the valve 3′ andto provide the recesses for such projections in the body of the valve.Still further, it is within the purview of the present invention toprovide one or more projections and one or more recesses on the urinaland complementary recesses and projections on the body of the checkvalve.

The valve 3 or 3′ can be securely held in the urinal by employing asuitable adhesive which bonds the body to the bowl. However, the ribs 11(or their equivalents render it possible to avoid bonding of the housing4 of the valve 3′ to the bowl la if they are received in thecomplementary grooves or recesses of the bowl with a requisite degree offriction. It is also clear that the body 4 of the valve 3 can alsocomprise suitable ribs or analogous projections which are a friction fitin complementary longitudinal grooves or recesses of the enclosure 8 ofFIG. 2. It is even possible to omit the step of bonding the halves 4 a,4 b of the housing 4 of the valve 3 to each other if these halves haveribs (such as or corresponding to the ribs 11 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B)which are held in the bowl of the urinal with a requisite degree offriction.

A further possibility of securely locating the improved check valve (3″)in a urinal is shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D. The housing or body 4″ of thevalve 3″ has an eccentric pin-shaped projection 13 which extends in adirection away from the flaps 6 a, 6 b and is receivable in acomplementary hole of the grid 12 forming part of the urinal 1″.Alternatively, the projection can be provided on the grid and is thenreceivable in a complementary recess or hole or socket of the body 4″.Still further, it is possible to provide one or more pins on the grid 12as well as on the body 4″.

FIG. 4 shows a portion of a modified urinal 101 which accommodates acheck valve 3 similar to or identical with the valve 3 of FIGS. 1 and 2.The bowl 101 a of the urinal 101 contains an externally threaded tubularmember 8″ having a flange 8 a′ which overlies a shoulder 101 b in thebowl 101 a. The lower end portion of the member 8′ extends beyond thebowl 101 a and mates with a nut 14 which urges the flange 8 a′ againstthe shoulder 101 b. The member 8′ has an internal shoulder for the endportion 10 a of the enclosure 8, and such end portion supports theflange 7 of the body 4 of the valve 3. The lower end portions of theflaps 6 a, 6 b extend beyond the lower end portion 10 b of the tubularmember 8′. The grid 12 is fitted into the upper end portion of thehollow tubular member 8′.

The mounting of the improved check valve 3, 3′ or 3″ in a urinal is asimple procedure. All that is necessary is to remove the grid 12 and toinsert the valve into the bowl 1 a or 1 a or 101 a. The flange 7 limitsthe extent of insertion of the valve body into the bowl of the urinal orinto the enclosure 8. An appropriate sealant can be employed on theflange 7 and/or on the adjacent portion of the bowl. The grid 12 is thenreinserted into the bowl and the urinal is ready for use. The aperturesof the grid 12 direct streamlets of urine into the fluid flow pathdefined by the housing of the properly inserted check valve, and suchstreamlets descend by gravity and cause at least one of the flaps 6 a, 6b to move away from the other flap so that the liquid can escape fromthe valve in the direction(s) indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3A by the arrowsA and B. The displaced flap(s) returns or return to the sealingposition(s) as soon as the flow of urine is interrupted. Therefore,malodorous gases in the region surrounding the flaps 6 a, 6 b cannotpenetrate into the path 5 and thence into the room in which the urinalis installed. Even minor pressure differentials between the path 5 andthe area surrounding the flaps 6 a, 6 b suffice to ensure immediateopening of the valve, and the tendency of the flaps to reassume theirsealing positions is sufficiently pronounced to ensure immediate closingof the valve when the inflow of urine into the path 5 is interrupted orterminated.

The feature that the flaps 6 a, 6 b can permit outflow of urine in thedirection indicated by the arrow A as well as in at least one of thedirections indicated by the double-headed arrow B exhibits the advantagethat solid matter which is entrained by urine is highly unlikely togather at any part of the inner side of the flap 6 a and/or 6 b. Thisprolongs the useful life of the improved check valve. Such self-cleaningconstitutes a highly desirable advantageous feature of the valve.

It will be appreciated that, even though it can be utilized with greatadvantage in urinals, the improved check valve can be employed in manyother devices or apparatus wherein a gaseous and/or liquid fluid is toflow in a first direction but the valve prevents the flow of fluid in asecond direction counter to the first direction. For example, thecomponents of the improved check valve can be designed to standpronounced fluid pressures before the flaps permit the outflow of suchfluids, and the parts of the valve can be made of any one of a widevariety of suitable plastic and/or other materials. If only one of theflaps is to yield in response to the flow of a fluid into the pathdefined by the body of the improved valve, the other flap (or anequivalent thereof) can be made of a rigid material as long as it can besealingly engaged by the yieldable flap when the check valve is to beclosed.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the aboveoutlined contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations shouldand are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range ofequivalence of the appended claims.

1. A one-way valve, comprising: a body having a first end and a secondend and defining a fluid flow path extending from said first end towardsaid second end; a substantially strip-shaped first valving elementprovided at said second end and extending away from said first end ofsaid body; and a second valving element borne by said body and normallysealingly engaging said first element to prevent the outflow of a fluidfrom said path, at least one of said elements consisting of a materialwhich is sufficiently resilient to move away from the other of saidelements in response to the flow of fluid along said path and thencebetween said elements.
 2. The valve of claim 1, wherein one of saidvalving elements at least approximates a mirror image of the other ofsaid valving elements.
 3. The valve of claim 1, wherein said body has anannular shape and comprises two sections which are at least substantialmirror images of each other.
 4. The valve of claim 1, wherein said bodyand said valving elements are installed in a portion of a toilet toprevent the flow of malodorous gases between said valving elements andinto said path when said second element sealingly engages said firstelement.
 5. The valve of claim 1, wherein said body is installed in aurinal to permit the flow of urine in a direction along said path andthereupon between said elements but to prevent the flow of malodorousgases issuing from a sewage system counter to said direction.
 6. Thevalve of claim 5 for use in a urinal having an at least substantiallytubular enclosure at least partially surrounding said valving elementsand surrounding at least said second end of said body.
 7. The valve ofclaim 6, wherein said enclosure has at least one guide slot and at leastone of said valving elements has a lateral portion received in said slotat least when said valving elements sealingly engage each other.
 8. Thevalve of claim 5, wherein one of said body and said urinal has a firstguide means and the other of said body and said urinal has second guidemeans coperating with said first guide means to maintain said body in apredetermined position relative to the urinal.
 9. The valve of claim 8,wherein said first guide means comprises at least one projection andsaid second guide means has a recess for said at least one projection.10. The valve of claim 8, wherein said at least one projection includesone of a pin and a rib.
 11. The valve of claim 1, wherein said bodycomprises first and second sections which define said path andrespectively carry said first and second valving elements.
 12. The valveof claim 11, wherein said sections of said body are at least substantialmirror images of each other.
 13. The valve of claim 11, wherein saidsections of said body are bonded to each other.
 14. The valve of claim1, wherein said body has an external flange and is installed in atubular enclosure which is adjacent said flange.
 15. The valve of claim1, wherein at least one of said valving elements has a thickness atleast approximating 0.2 mm.
 16. The valve of claim 1, wherein at least aportion of said body has a thickness at least approximating 0.8 mm. 17.The valve of claim 1, wherein at least one of said valving elements isof one piece with said body.
 18. The valve of claim 1, wherein at leastone of said valving elements is a flexible sheet having an at leastsubstantially square or rectangular outline.
 19. The valve of claim 1,wherein said at least one valving element is movable away from saidother valving element to permit the fluid to flow between said elementsin a first direction away from said second end of said body and in atleast one second direction transversely of said first direction.
 20. Thevalve of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one of saidbody, said first valving element and said second valving elementconsists of an elastomeric plastic material.